Release the Spyce

Momo Minamoto is a shy teenager who simply wants to do good in the world. Her dream is to follow in her police officer father's footsteps and support law and order. And just like him, she has a very unique ability: her senses are much more refined than those of any average person. A simple lick will enable her to determine what someone is feeling.

One night, as she admires the landscape, Momo sees suspicious shades moving in the distance. After learning that those shades were spies, she is recruited by their captain Yuki Hanzoumon, a senior at her school. The members of their secret agency, called the Tsukikage, also have the power to gain strength after ingesting spices.

Release the Spyce is an action-packed spy series about the Tsukikage's missions as they fight in the shadows to protect the city from crime while keeping up with their high school life.

[Written by MAL Rewrite]

Hanzoumon, Yuki Main

Numakura, Manami Japanese

Minamoto, Momo Main

Anzai, Yukari Japanese

Yachiyo, Mei Main

Suzaki, Aya Japanese

Ishikawa, Goe Main

Noguchi, Yuri Japanese

Sagami, Fuu Main

Fujita, Akane Japanese

Aoba, Hatsume Main

Uchida, Aya Japanese

Theresia Supporting

Taneda, Risa Japanese

Tobey, Katrina Supporting

Komatsu, Mikako Japanese

Byakko Supporting

Suzuki, Aina Japanese

Bunchou no Onna Supporting

Itou, Shizuka Japanese

Maeda, Toshihiro Producer

Yonai, Noritomo Producer, Planning

Ozawa, Fumihiro Producer

Saitou, Yasuo Producer

Reviews

Feb 3, 2024

Mehfisto

Recommended

This is such an underrated gem out there. To be clear: it is a "fairly" light hearted story about a group of ninja spy girls looking over the city and fighting an evil powerful organisation that works in the shadows. Do not expect to be mindblown by some deep plot or highly intellectual content, or every detail being completely covered with no flaw whatsoever. There are some aspects or happenings that are quickly disposed of with some ready explanation and you are just supposed to go with it. But there will also be a lot of scenes that will hit you right in the feels ... and it is not holding back.

That being said! This serie was such a good surprise! I picked it up out of nowhere and with little expectations as I was just looking for something of good company and it's been an absolute blast to go through!

The pace is good, some episodes are slower than others but they never felt boring. There are a lot of cute moments of affections between the girls which I personally enjoyed but it can definitely feel cheesy if you are not into that. The animation is great! The fight scenes are rich and exciting, the music is always on point to make you immerse in this little spy world and the characters are all interesting on their own and you will soon enough get immersed, enthralled, in their lives and struggles.

I feel like the studio put all their heart into this work and really wanted to make something good out of it and it shows in all the cares for the little details, as simple as the concept itself might be.

Reviewer’s Rating: 8

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Mar 23, 2025

modernamir

Mixed Feelings

At first glance, Release the Spyce seems like a typical, lighthearted anime aimed at younger audiences. But after the first episode, it picks up the pace and starts showing its potential. The story isn’t exactly unique — it leans into some familiar tropes like the power of friendship and characters surviving unrealistic situations — but it still manages to be entertaining, especially if you enjoy the spy/action genre.

The art style fits the tone perfectly, with bright colors and smooth animation that help balance the more serious moments. The characters are likeable, though they’re a bit idealized — most of them are either overly capable or ... emotionally driven in a way that feels a little too clean. Still, they do show both strengths and weaknesses, which keeps them from being completely flat.

Reactions to intense events aren’t always realistic, but they serve the story well enough. Overall, if you're okay with some anime clichés and want a stylish, fast-paced spy story with solid visuals and a fun cast, this one is worth your time.

Reviewer’s Rating: 9

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May 10, 2019

OhShitBye

Not Recommended

I really can't bring myself to like this anime. There seems to be little reason why the girls are so overpowered as compared to regular human beings...because they are supposed to be regular human beings. Regardless of what you say about training methods, it simply feels cheesy and cheap, with no proper foreshadowing towards any of the characters' so called hidden abillities/potential.

I get that this is an anime that really just isn't meant to be taken with any sense of realism, but at the very least make things look somewhat believable. At least Black Widow's fighting style in the movies looked more believable than ... this. Fact of life, women are physically weaker than men on average. And ignoring sex, being less than half the size of another person with no muscle development leads to very unrealistic and unbelievable fight scenes that feel cheap and overplayed. At the very least, use fighting styles that highlight making up for the physical differences in strength level, rather than having some chick be strong enough to pick up a man that likely weighs around 75-80 kilos with a single hand at arm's length like he's nothing. At least Batman looks like he can do that, she definitely does not. Even John Wick can't fight more than two or three guys at a time, and most of the time he does it with a gun.

This really just feels like one of those anime that is centered around overpowering characters when convenient and never presenting any real threat or genuine fear for the situations they're placed in. At the very least I'd hoped they'd steer away from the general tropes about love and friendship but I guess the writer said nope. Their villains don't look threatening, their storyline is not interesting, there is no tension in anything that the villains or characters do, and there is no sense of foreboding regardless of the events that transpire.

It really isn't because of any one part of the anime, but more a mixture of all the things from the art style to the music to the story, but this makes this a bag of bad things mixed together and presented to you in a jumbled mess. The story feels like it has no direction, and without a good story there is really little else to make this anime worth watching.

Ultimately, please leave the wanking to when you're alone in your room, and don't place it into an anime. Stuffing 15-17 year old girls that look like they're 12 into skimpy outfits and having them fight crime is really not the way to go to create a real masterpiece in anime. John Wick had no story whatsoever, but still managed to become one of the best movies ever due to wonderful choreography and great action scenes. Having a highschool girl clock someone in the face with an arm half the size of his and sending him flying does not make for an entertaining fight scene. Rather it's still entertaining, just not at all for the reason you're going for.

Reviewer’s Rating: 4

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	Poll: Release the Spyce Episode 3 Discussion Stark700 - Oct 20, 2018	43 replies	by ejleon »» Jun 30, 3:49 AM
	Poll: Release the Spyce Episode 2 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Oct 13, 2018	50 replies	by RGreatDanton »» Feb 22, 8:18 PM
	Poll: Release the Spyce Episode 1 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Oct 6, 2018	87 replies	by RGreatDanton »» Feb 22, 8:01 PM
	Poll: Release the Spyce Episode 12 Discussion ( 1 2 ) Stark700 - Dec 22, 2018	93 replies	by bushman66 »» Feb 3, 2024 5:25 PM
	Poll: Release the Spyce Episode 7 Discussion Stark700 - Nov 17, 2018	44 replies	by tsumetai1163 »» Dec 11, 2023 1:25 AM